Device for cleaning pipe lines



April 12 1927.

B. GERBER DEVICE FOR CLEANING PIPE LINES Filed May 1, 1924 Lu e/21201 .IB. 8 lea B841 .JBy

1 a o municates with the vessel and is provided Paten ed Apr. 12, 1927.

being ,esca' of the .us

the vessel rests,

BEBNHABD GERBER, F STELLINGEN; NEAR HAMBURG, GERMANY.

PATENT 'oFFu:

DEVICE FOR CLEANING PIPE LINES.

Application filed Kay 1, 1924.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning lines of piping, more particu-'- larly pipes for conveying beer, by' means of a vesseLcontaining a water-jet apparatus and a finely ranulated cleaning material which is. acted on by the suction of the water-jet device.

The invention consists more particularly in this, that on a closing cover of the vessel a two-way valve is provided, which comwith branches for connecting pipes, there a further branch in the cover for the dirty flushing water, while in ower end of the metal cap, in which a valve is fixed, which is branch for the attachment the provided with a of. a connecting pipe and serves for closingthe vessel.

In the accompanyingdrawmg a construe tional example of the invention is shown, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the ap-- paratus, partly in "elevation, and

Fig. 2 a diagrammatic view of the apparatus with the parts inthe position for the return of the cleaning mater1al.

The apparatus comprises a cylindrical glass vessel a, which is reduced in diameter at the bottom'and serves for the rece tion of a finely granulated cleaning materia and the lower part of which rests in a closely can be closed edge fitting metallic cap 6, which at the bottom by a valve '0. The upper of the metal cap I), is provided with lugs (1,

through which extend supporting members f fixed to the base plate of the apparatus.

On the upper edge of the rests a metal ring h which is lugs g and an extension of w the top of'the glass vessel. The supporting members f extend through the lugs g'and the latter are tightened up on' them. by means of nuts :0, so that the glass vessel is rovided with nch embraces held between the-metal ring 72. and the metal f valve for communicating with a water sugf t e capg b. In the metal ring h is a sieve k.

. v a closmg cover I screwed on to the metal ring h the glass vessel a'is tightly closed. On the inside of the closing cover Z nozzle at its extremity.

, cover I is a two-way valve 0 communicating I U with theglass vessel.

The two-way valve is provided with branches 7), g, 1' for the supply and return pipes. In the closing the same through the return material g'ass vessel 0 Serial No. 110,414.

cover are provided an 0 en outlet branch '8 for the escape'of the dirty flushing water and a pipe t.

The apparatus operates as follows: After the line ofpiping to be cleaned has been connected to the flexible tubes connect ed to the branches g and c, the two-way valve 0 is so adjusted that the Si'pe n is open to the supply of water. n water under pressure eing admitted to the pipe u, it will pass through the two-wav valve 0 and the supply pipe 4:. and will emerge from the latter in the form of a strong jet, carrying along with it by suction cleaning material through 1o the valve 0 into the lines of piping to be cleaned and returning to two-way valve 0 into the vesse a, flushing water being conveyed away throng l the open outlet branch-s, while the cleanipeand 'thethe dirt ingvmaterial is kept in constant circulation. Y

hen the line of piping has been cleaned or iflthe cleaning process is to be inter-' rupted, the two-way valve 0 is turned, so that the branches p and q are directly connected (Fig. 2), when the water will be conveyed through the two-way valve 0 an the branch q in the opposite direction to that previously described through the lines of piping to be cleaned, carrying the cleaningmaterial remaining in the hnes'of piping with It and conveying it" through t valve. 0 into the vessela. 1he-dirty-llush ing water will then open outlet branch '8, while the cleaning will be deposited in the'vessela What I claim"is:-'

moieparticularly pi e's'ior conveying flow oil" through 1 the 1; An apparatus for cleaning pipe lines,

granulated cleaning. material acted-upon the suction of a waterjet comprising in} combination, a vessel, a

cover on said vessel,'a two-way valve on said mo cover, a nozzle ipe in the vessel that is. connected with t evalve, branches on the and one o the cover for the dirty water, a metal cap of the vessel and a one way Q.

ofi .p pe clean'n i es f it I g pp or 0" container for granuing a cover and a converging bottom to form a funnel which is connected through a closure means with the pipe to be cleaned, said funnel having near 1ts apex the nozzle of a water pressure pipe to form a suction jet for the cleansing material, said water pressure pipe being connected through the cover of the container with a two-way valve disposed upon the cover of the container, one way of said two-way valveconnecting the jet with the pressure water supply when in one position, the other way being connected with a pipe protruding into the said container and by another branch with the pipe to be cleaned, while in an alternate position the two-way valve is adapted to connect the water supply pipe directly with the pipe to be cleaned for .'leansing in the opposite direction, an outlet pipe being provided on the cover of the container for removing the flush water.

3. An apparatus for cleaning pipes for conveying beverages such as beer, comprising in combination a container for a granulated cleansing material, said container I having cap-shaped cover and a cylindrical converging bottom to form a funnel which is connected by a valve to the pipe to be cleaned, said funnel having near its apex the nozzle of a water pressure supply pipe to form a suction jet for the cleansing material, said water pressure pipe being connected through the said cover of the container with a two-way valve disposed upon the cover of the container, the one-way of said two-way valve forming a connection between the jet and the pressure water supply, while the other way of said two-way valve forms a connection between a pipe protruding fora short distance into the container and the pipe to be cleaned, an outlet pipe provided on top of the cover of the container for removing the flush water, and a foraminous member fastened under the cap-shaped cover above the container to retain the granulated cleansing material, said member being penetrated by the said protruding pipe branch.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BERNHARD GERBER. 

